We had a great time working on this project…

See the Mueller Landscaping Project we did last year on our Houzz page.

This was a new construction landscaping project. Some unique project features include site built Out-Door Kitchen including storage room for pool supplies and Kegerator. Granite counter tops on the bar top. We used local Omaha suppliers for all materials. Over 500 Sq Ft of pavers and rock around the pool coping. This project was completed in mid summer of 2014.

For more details on how we can work with you to build the landscape of your dreams, please call Arbor Hills Trees & Landscaping at 402.895.3635 or email: arborhills@cox.net

The Royal Star Magnolia

About:

The Royal Star Magnolia is an early blooming tree with large, fragrant, double white flowers. Star Magnolias are interestingly a member of one of the most ancient flowering plant families in the world.

It’s beautiful white flowers begin to appear even before the foliage emerges in spring. This tree produce fragrant blossoms that last throughout the spring and into the summer. Note, due to late frosts, that can stretch into the early spring – damage on blooming flowers on the Royal Star Magnolia is common.

Did you know? The Royal Star Magnolia is considered an open-branched, multi-trunked ‘large shrub’ – but is commonly referred to as a small tree.

What you should know about the Royal Star Magnolia tree

Royal Star Magnolias should be planted in moist soil. However, the magnolia requires well-drained soil. While this tree requires a great deal of water to thrive, it cannot tolerate soaking in soil, as ‘root rot’ is common.

The idea:

Foundation plants, which circle around the foundation of your home – really should enhance your house, offering a more welcoming outdoor environment, and correlating it to the whole yard landscape.

Sadly. we often see under nurtured plants and overgrown evergreen shrubs lining the foundation of the home. Most of the time they offer no visual appeal to the overall landscape. We would love to offer some simple ways to avoid the foundation ‘sad’ scapes. Isn’t it about time to rethink the concept of your foundation landscape woes?

Work with your landscape architect to devise a plan to use the architecture of your home to determine the style of the foundation landscape.

1.) Is your home Mid Century Modern? Colonial? Tudor or Cottage Styled? If so, consider a landscape design that has some elements of the style of your actual home. Choose shrubs that bloom colors similar to your outdoor accent colors, such as the color of your door, the shutters etc.

2.) Design your landscape so that each side of your foundation landscape is the mirror image of the other side.Note: Informal, cottage-style homes and low-slung ranches look best with more casual, asymmetrical plant schemes.

3.) Avoid landscaping elements that detract from the main entrance and the house in general, such as tall plantings that block views of your home, or a lonely flower bed in the middle of an open lawn.

4.) The foundation landscape around the entrance or walkway of your home is where guests experience your landscape close up and personally, so make this area welcoming with an interesting contrast of lighting and textures.

5.) Where there is a long stretch of bare-wall between windows – is often an invitation for a larger shrub, a small tree, or even a vine-covered trellis. Around windows, be sure not to cut off light and air with plants that will grow too high.

Contact the professional landscapers at Arbor Hills Trees and Landscaping. We can help you with your foundation landscaping concepts and work with you – every step of the way to see it to fruition. Contact us at 402.895.3635 or visit our website atarborhilltrees.com

There’s much more to your outdoor living space than grass, flowers and trees. A fire pit and patio built with decorative brick pavers or stamped concrete goes a long way to create a warm, inviting space at just about any time of year.

Outdoor entertaining really is possible when you have a cozy space dedicated to drawing your favorite people together in fun and festivities. A fire pit offers a warm, dry space as long as the skies are clear. Permeable pavers can even expand the “dry” by reducing the effects of precipitation on your patio.

Arbor Hills Landscaping is introducing its new Patios and Walkways – Castel Stone Patio and Fire pit installation. All new colors for 2015’ – Most patios or walkways can be installed in 2-3 days. Stamped concrete or Pavers. Call today to discuss your project with Ed at 402.895.3635

Can we just say: What beautiful weather we’ve had in the during past few weeks here in Nebraska!

The crew at Arbor Hills is ready for a great year of creating new landscapes and updating old ones, planting new trees and shrubs as well as working in this great weather we’ve had thus far.

We have so many beautiful Nebraska native trees currently budding in our tree farm right now. What a sight to see! You can pre-order trees for this season right now on our website at: arborhilltrees.com – Or give us a call at 402.895.3635. You can have us choose a tree for your yard, or come by our Nursery in Elkhorn, Nebraska and choose your own.

Make sure to follow our blog this year, for great tips and helpful articles on keeping your yard looking great all year long.

Yes, it is a really good idea to mulch your garden or landscaping in fall. Why? There’s a long winter ahead, especially if you live in Nebraska or Iowa, and you want to make sure that come spring, you’ll be all ready to plant.

When vegetable gardens and annual flowers have been harvested or are dead, garden mulching can begin!

Remember these basic guidelines when preparing to mulch your landscaping or garden:

Remove plant debris from gardens

Don’t let weeds remain in your garden or landscaping beds, because you will have to deal with them in spring if you don’t now

Now you’re ready for roto-tilling your soil

If using leaves as a garden mulch, shred them first (for example, by running the lawn mower over them before collecting them)

Did you know that there is a ground cover option to meet most homeowners needs? Whether you’re planting a pathway, a hedge, or a broad swath of green, ground covers run the gamut of foliage textures and colors. Ground covers can work great as barriers or landscape punctuation.

When deciding on which type of ground coverage plants to incorporate into your yard, try and look for attributes that meet your needs. Is it child-durable, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, shade-loving?

Mixing various ground coverings up is not only aesthetically pleasing, it’s also good for the landscape – as diversity increases resistance to pests and disease and reduces the need for fertilizer and pesticides.